Found this deal for R8500. This is apparently the best router to get if you want opensource firmware. It is $250 shipped after coupon applied. Pretty good deal if you are looking for an high-end router that doesn't overheat.

xenilk wrote: ↑
Might be frown upon but guys seriously screw these routers... just get a ubiquiti router + access point and call it a day. Best deicison ever.

I currently own:
1) R7000
2) TWO Ubiquiti Access points (UAC-PRo, and a UAC LR) hooked up to a Ubiquiti EdgeX Router

I can confirm that the R7000 has a range equal to the Ubiquiti access points when compared to either one of them. I can also confirm the R7000 has the same performance and equal packet losses for high traffic high demand transfers.

I can confirm that TWO access points vs One R7000 are better than the R7000 when they are "meshed" together using the Ubiquiti setup. It's a one hop mesh. But the range far exceeds what any one Router can do.

I can also confirm that the Edge Router X is a much more secure Router, has many more features that lead to efficiencies then using a generic configuration in a high end consumer Router like the R7000.

Last word of advice, don't use the shitty Router provided by your internet service provider. It will create needless interference, take up channel frequency which could otherwise be at the disposal of these routers when they auto switch to the least traffic frequency, not to mention the ISP routers are inferior in performance.

Conclusion:
If you have a property of less than 1600 SQfT, get an R7000
If you have a property size of 1500-2500, get two Ubiquiti access points connected to any Router of your choice.
if you want to cover an area any greater than 2500 SQFT, then invest in a mesh network from google, asus,Netgear, Ubiquiti, etc after reading reviews online.
If you access secure items online, or run a business at home, then invest in using Ubiquiti Router and pay someone to configure it or follow the web for advice.

I wonder if most people are aware that these super-routers with a forest of antennas probably have no benefit at all for the average home user. All routers are limited to the same maximum transmit power, and your devices can only make use of the number of streams for which they have separate antennas and radios themselves - usually a max of two. So the benefit of all those antennas and radios in the router is only for supporting multiple devices streaming at high speed simultaneously.

If you're interested in the R7000, a solid AC1900 performer at a lower price, Staples is clearing them out at the moment with their in-store 25% off sale making the price about $142. My local Staples has lots of them on the clearance shelf.

zdpz wrote: ↑
I currently own:
1) R7000
2) TWO Ubiquiti Access points (UAC-PRo, and a UAC LR) hooked up to a Ubiquiti EdgeX Router

I can confirm that the R7000 has a range equal to the Ubiquiti access points when compared to either one of them. I can also confirm the R7000 has the same performance and equal packet losses for high traffic high demand transfers.

I can confirm that TWO access points vs One R7000 are better than the R7000 when they are "meshed" together using the Ubiquiti setup. It's a one hop mesh. But the range far exceeds what any one Router can do.

I can also confirm that the Edge Router X is a much more secure Router, has many more features that lead to efficiencies then using a generic configuration in a high end consumer Router like the R7000.

Last word of advice, don't use the shitty Router provided by your internet service provider. It will create needless interference, take up channel frequency which could otherwise be at the disposal of these routers when they auto switch to the least traffic frequency, not to mention the ISP routers are inferior in performance.

Conclusion:
If you have a property of less than 1600 SQfT, get an R7000
If you have a property size of 1500-2500, get two Ubiquiti access points connected to any Router of your choice.
if you want to cover an area any greater than 2500 SQFT, then invest in a mesh network from google, asus,Netgear, Ubiquiti, etc after reading reviews online.
If you access secure items online, or run a business at home, then invest in using Ubiquiti Router and pay someone to configure it or follow the web for advice.

Good luck!

I have a 3500sqft home and the R7000 serves me well from front to back on the top two floors, with the exception of the basement.